The secret life of shop front mannequins has been something which has fascinated our collective unconscious for years. Even Sex in the City glamour girl Kim Cattrall took a spin as a mannequin in the surprise hit love story from 1987, Mannequin. In the film she came to life each night to help her human lover transform the department store window into the best in town.
Perhaps this film, with all its long legs, ‘strike a pose’ moments and motorcycles was the inspiration for the upcoming PIAF show, Revolt of the Mannequins. Created by ingenious French street theatre company Royal de Luxe, this show takes place in the heart of Perth’s shopping precinct. Yes, the city will be transformed into an almost stock animation exploration of just exactly how and why the shop mannequins will revolt.
Anne-Marie Vennel, assistant to Royal de Luxe’s artistic director Jean Luc Courcoult, took a moment to explain to Scott-Patrick Mitchell (with translation assistance from Amy Henderson) about what this project entails.
What is the overall vision and ‘goal’ of Royal de Luxe?
To awaken the children who sleep within people. To be tempted to find a common language that always puts us in danger of getting close to people.
Can you describe the project Revolt of the Mannequins?
It is a spectacle which lasts eight days in windows of stores. It is held a little like a cartoon. Each window has a story, and the mannequins are the characters. The audience will discover each day the next episode of the story which develops in each window. Each mannequin has the face and the body of the members of the company the Royal de Luxe.
Can you describe the process behind creating this truly unique project?
It is an interaction once more in the street (this time in a store window). It is a concept like those which we already developed such as ‘Le parking à chaussures’ (The carpark for shoes) ‘Embouteillages’ (Traffic Jams). It is embedded in the daily life of people at a given time.
How will Revolt of the Mannequins ‘transform’ the streets and shop fronts of Perth?
One hopes to touch the public, and to make them dream through these poetic rendezvous’.
How has does Revolt of the Mannequins fit into the body of your work?
Revolt of the Mannequins, like a lot of other shows of the Royal de Luxe, is a particular stage which makes us see a strange world: that of the stores.
Given that your work usually appears in Europe, how do you think the physical and cultural space of Australia will influence your work?
I can’t wait to know. I really hope this a good experience.
Revolt of the Mannequins will take place in shop fronts throughout the city from Friday February 20 to Saturday February 28. Visit each day to see the next chapter. See perthfestival.com.au/family/revoltmannequins for updates.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
